Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 416 A Beauty with Ambitions to Support the Sky (Part 2)

As an "old minister" who had followed Zhu Yunwen before he was made crown prince, Yang Shiqi was undoubtedly Zhu Yunwen's most favored "favorite minister".

The two got along very well in their daily lives. Their relationship was subtle and special, with both the etiquette and rules between a ruler and his subject, and the sincere friendship between friends.

Even though Zhu Yuntong had previously lost his temper several times, his anger always carried the undertone of a friend venting their emotions on the other person, and he had never questioned her with such a cold and "serious" tone as he was now.

Yang Shiqi kowtowed heavily, his forehead hitting the ground with a dull thud: "Your Majesty is wise. When I secretly sent people to search for beauties among the common people back then, I did have contact with the Imperial Brother-in-law."

"But since Your Majesty appointed the Empress, I have strictly adhered to my duties and have had no private interactions with the Imperial Brother-in-law."

"If Your Majesty has any doubts, you may immediately send someone to investigate. I have not uttered a single falsehood."

Zhu Yunwen snorted coldly, his face full of anger, and rebuked, "You have always been exceptionally intelligent, and you should understand that what I am asking about is not the private relationship between the two of you."

"At this point, do you still think you can deceive me with your words?"

"What I'm asking is, what exactly is the Empress's intention?"

"Is the emperor's brother-in-law secretly instigating and manipulating the opposition to the new policies and new education?"

"Don't tell me you know nothing about this."

If it were simply a case of a powerful relative of the emperor abusing his power, the case would be relatively simple.

Strict punishment is sufficient.

However, if there are political motives involved, affecting the overall political situation, then the nature of the matter changes completely.

Upon hearing Zhu Yunwen's words, Yang Shiqi's expression changed drastically. He then kowtowed again, prostrating himself on the ground, and said, "Your Majesty, there is a distinction between ruler and subject, which is a matter of etiquette."

"The Emperor and Empress are of equal status, and I dare not presume to speak ill of the Empress."

"If Your Majesty has many doubts, in my opinion, you may return to the palace and ask the Empress in person. I am sure that the Empress will answer your questions."

Zhu Yunwen stared silently at Yang Shiqi, his eyes seemingly able to see into people's hearts, and remained silent for a long time.

The entire room seemed to have been sucked out of the air, falling into a suffocating silence.

After a long while, Zhu Yunwen sighed softly, his voice filled with helplessness and exhaustion. He stood up and walked outside.

……

After a while, judging by the time, and estimating that Zhu Yunwen had already left in his carriage, Yang Shiqi slowly got up from the ground and stepped out of the room.

After going downstairs, I saw an official leading several constables into the teahouse, anxiously inquiring about the day's events from the manager.

It turned out that the guards had taken Master Zhao to the Yingtian Prefecture government office, saying that they were acting on the orders of the Censorate to arrest Master Zhao and bring him to the government office for punishment. Then they left in a hurry without revealing their identities.

Because the Emperor is currently outside the palace and has not yet returned, they must strictly abide by the rules and not reveal their identities without authorization.

The officials of Yingtian Prefecture looked at the Third Master Zhao who had been brought in and felt that he was in a very difficult situation.

This is undoubtedly a hot potato.

The censors were not to be trifled with, and the emperor's brother-in-law was even more untouchable.

Therefore, the officials of Yingtian Prefecture temporarily detained Master Zhao in accordance with regulations. After all, such a matter had been brought to the forefront, and Yingtian Prefecture could not ignore it, especially since it was a crime committed by an imperial censor.

On the other hand, they hurriedly sent people to the teahouse to investigate the truth.

The most crucial thing is to find out which two censors it is, so as to decide how to proceed.

As soon as Yang Shiqi appeared, the teahouse owner immediately pointed at him and said, "This gentleman is one of the two censors who just ordered the arrest of Master Zhao."

The leading official looked over upon hearing this and was instantly stunned.

Censor?

Isn't this Minister Yang?
Although he was only a sixth-rank sub-prefect, he had been working in Yingtian Prefecture and had seen Yang Shiqi a few times before, so he recognized him.

Upon closer examination, it's not entirely wrong for Lord Yang to refer to himself as an imperial censor when he holds the position of Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

However, this censor is far more powerful than any ordinary censor.

The official rubbed his eyes, looked again to make sure he wasn't mistaken, then ran over with a broad smile and respectfully bowed, saying, "This humble official, Shen Subai, Prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, greets Lord Yang!"

"You recognize me?" Yang Shiqi asked Shen Subai with a slightly curious look in his eyes.

But he couldn't recall ever seeing this prefect before.

"I have attended the imperial court several times, and when I was in charge of official business in the government affairs office, I had the honor of seeing Lord Yang's demeanor, and that's how I came to know you."

Prefect Shen Subai was extremely humble, his posture extremely low: "Lord Yang holds a high position and wields great power. He is busy with state affairs every day and has countless responsibilities. Naturally, he would not pay attention to a lowly official like me. However, my impression of you is unforgettable and I will never forget it."

His obsequious and ingratiating words were quite obvious, but Yang Shiqi did not engage in any pretense with him. His face suddenly darkened, and he questioned, "Third Master Zhao has always been unruly and unscrupulous in the capital. Does your Yingtian Prefecture really know nothing about this?"

"If one is completely ignorant, then one is mediocre, incompetent, and derelict in one's duty!"

"If one knew about it beforehand but did nothing, and condoned it out of fear of offending the emperor's brother-in-law, that would be deliberate cover-up!"

"Today, Master Zhao led his men to commit violence, and I happened to witness it. Instead of interrogating him, you rushed here to inquire which censor he was. Do you still remember the majesty of the laws of the Ming Dynasty?"

Shen Subai's forehead was instantly covered with beads of sweat, and large beads of sweat rolled down his cheeks.

He never imagined that this so-called censor was actually Yang Shiqi, the dignified Left Censor-in-Chief. No wonder he dared to send people to drag Master Zhao to the Yingtian Prefecture government office.

He had previously suspected that it was some bookish censor who, in a fit of temper, was willing to offend the emperor's brother-in-law in order to punish Master Zhao.

In the past, the Censorate rarely produced such censors.

Fearless of death, they dare to offend the powerful and influential to the point of death!

But I never expected it to be this person!
Shen Xiaobai hurriedly and respectfully said, "This humble servant deserves to die, this humble servant..."

"No need for explanations." Yang Shiqi raised his hand to interrupt him: "This matter can be discussed later. If the officials of Yingtian Prefecture have indeed neglected their duties, the court will punish them according to the regulations."

"You shall immediately mobilize the officers and servants of Yingtian Prefecture to secretly surround the residence of the Imperial Uncle."

"Remember, the operation must be kept secret. Do not reveal your identity, keep quiet, and never let outsiders notice anything."

"At the same time, closely monitor the entry and exit of all personnel within the residence."

"If the emperor's brother-in-law goes out, someone must be sent to secretly follow him and report to the government office in a timely manner."

"In addition, we must carefully investigate the case of Master Zhao."

“All the evil deeds he committed in the past, and who instructed him behind them, must be thoroughly investigated, one by one, until the truth comes out.”

"Regardless of who is involved in the case, those who should be arrested should be arrested, and those who should be imprisoned should be imprisoned, understand?"

Shen Subai was greatly alarmed and hesitated, saying, "Surrounding the residence of the Imperial Uncle and secretly following him... this is probably not appropriate, is it?"

Yang Shiqi's gaze was like a cold star, icy and piercing, and he said angrily, "I order you to do it, so just do as I say."

"What, now you can even disobey the orders of me, the Minister of State?"

"This humble servant wouldn't dare!" Seeing Yang Shiqi's anger, Shen Subai hurriedly replied, "This humble servant obeys!"

Although the emperor's brother-in-law had a prominent status and a prestigious position, he was ultimately not a "real official" who held real power and handled government affairs.

Offending the emperor's brother-in-law and offending Yang Shiqi have vastly different consequences.

At least, the emperor's brother-in-law did not have the direct power to deal with officials.

Moreover, normally, the emperor's brother-in-law would not easily go to the empress or the emperor to complain, otherwise, if the emperor inquired about the matter, he might be reprimanded.

After all, in the imperial court, everything is governed by reason.

From this perspective, as long as the emperor's brother-in-law is not completely and irreparably offended, it is unlikely to lead to a major disaster.

Officials usually give face to the emperor's brother-in-law simply because they don't want to cause trouble for themselves.

However, once under real pressure, the situation will be quite different.

Offending the emperor's brother-in-law would make it difficult for him to retaliate against an official like Shen Subai. He would have to go to great lengths to find an opportunity, ask for favors, and pull strings.

However, if one offends Yang Shiqi, he only needs to signal a certain censor to submit a memorial of impeachment. Once the government office receives the memorial, it will issue an instruction, and Shen Subai, the prefectural magistrate of Yingtian Prefecture, will immediately have to pack his bags and go home, and be cut off from officialdom forever.

If they find another fault, they might be prosecuted and sentenced.

After all, in the officialdom, which official is completely without a single mistake?

Unless it's a nominal official with no real power!
If a thorough investigation were conducted, any official with real power could uncover the problems.

It simply depends on whether the authorities want to or are willing to let it go.

Yang Shiqi was the real powerful minister who wielded immense authority and could manipulate events in the court.

Finding him would be effortless!
With this comparison, the choice becomes quite clear.

"Then go and do it." Yang Shiqi said this briefly, then ignored Shen Subai and walked straight out of the teahouse.

"Lord Yang." Shen Subai hesitated for a moment, then quickly caught up, lowering his voice, and said, "Sneaking around the Imperial Uncle's residence and secretly following him is a matter of great importance. I wonder if you could issue an official document to the Yingtian Prefecture government office in the name of the Administrative Office? This way, we can feel more at ease when handling matters." Since Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne, he has repeatedly emphasized that government offices must strictly adhere to procedures.

All official business must be documented in formal form and signed for confirmation. Strict standardization is essential to ensure clear instructions beforehand and accountability afterward.

Initially, officials complained bitterly, feeling that such standardization greatly reduced their opportunities for rent-seeking.

But as time went on, they gradually realized the benefits.

Putting aside other issues, at least after standardization, there have been far fewer "unreasonable" orders issued from above.

Things are easier for them than before.

If everything is "compliant," you won't have to live in constant fear.

Shen Subai pondered in his heart that if there was an official document to support the matter of the Imperial Brother-in-Law, then he would not have to bear any responsibility in the future.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Yang Shiqi suddenly turned his head, his eyes shooting towards Shen Subai with a cold glint, his gaze so sharp it seemed to pierce through a person.

Shen Subai felt a chill run down his spine; every pore on his body tensed up, and he felt as if the air around him had frozen.

"If the suspect needs to be apprehended, the government office will issue an official document, and it may even be an imperial edict from His Majesty."

Yang Shiqi's voice was utterly cold, like a biting winter wind: "As for the present..."

He paused slightly, then continued, "The Yingtian Prefecture government is responsible for maintaining daily order in the capital."

"The government office had previously issued a strict order: the law is impartial and does not discriminate based on social status. Even if a prince breaks the law, he will be punished the same as a commoner."

“If any member of the Imperial Brother-in-law’s family commits a crime, the Yingtian Prefecture government has an inescapable duty to deal with it. Monitoring their accomplices or the masterminds behind it is also within your responsibilities.”

At this point, Yang Shiqi abruptly changed the subject, staring at Shen Subai and slowly said, "Of course, if you are unwilling to take on this matter, I will not force you."

"I hereby issue this letter in my capacity as Minister of State Affairs and Left Censor-in-Chief: As the Vice Prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, you have failed to understand the people's plight, allowing local bullies to run rampant in the streets and teahouses, oppressing the common people. You are hereby suspended from your post and sent home to await impeachment."

"In this way, one can remain uninvolved and protect oneself."

Shen Subai's face turned deathly pale instantly, and his body trembled uncontrollably. After a brief moment of shock, he knelt down in a panic with a thud, repeatedly saying, "This humble servant had no such intention! It was my rash words that caused me to lose my composure. This humble servant will arrange for people to handle this matter properly and thoroughly, please rest assured, Lord Yang."

As the Vice Prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, Shen Subai frequently dealt with powerful figures in the capital, and had long since developed a skill in being shrewd, worldly, and adept at dealing with people.

Whenever something happens, his first reaction is to avoid it or push it away if he can, and he is unwilling to make decisions or take responsibility easily. Over time, this has become his habit.

Yang Shiqi's words were like a heavy hammer, slapping the prefect awake.

Given the immense prestige of the emperor's brother-in-law, why would Yang Shiqi rashly order the surveillance of him if the situation hadn't been so serious?

Furthermore, if it were truly necessary to secretly monitor the emperor's brother-in-law, wouldn't the secret agents, inspectors, and intelligence officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, or even the Bureau of Investigation and Punishment of the Ministry of Justice, be more suitable than the Yingtian Prefecture government?
Why insist on having the clerks from the Yingtian Prefecture government handle this?

There must be a deeper reason behind this seemingly unusual order.

Furthermore, Lord Yang claimed to be keeping it a secret, yet he gave instructions in the teahouse in front of outsiders. What kind of secrecy is that?

Was it truly Lord Yang's oversight, or was there another reason?
……

If this matter involves power struggles within the imperial court, at this crucial moment, he must make his stance clear, leaving no room for shirking responsibility.

After all, those who waver between two sides will ultimately end up pleasing neither.

Shen Subai pondered to himself, since Lord Yang dared to issue this order, he must be at least 70% or 80% confident.

Besides, he doesn't have many options right now. Rather than hesitating, he should make a decisive move and cling tightly to Lord Yang, this "big tree."

However, Yang Shiqi ignored Shen Subai's seemingly "sensible" act of surrender. He simply flicked his sleeves with a cold expression and strode out of the teahouse without looking back.

Shen Subai was left kneeling there, staring blankly at Yang Shiqi's departing figure, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

After Yang Shiqi left, Shen Subai slowly stood up from the ground, his expression still showing some lingering fear.

At this moment, the teahouse owner, who had witnessed the whole thing, was filled with curiosity and quickly stepped forward to ask in a low voice, "Was that the Minister of State Affairs, the Left Censor-in-Chief, Lord Yang?"

Shen Subai replied in a low voice, "It is indeed this person."

"So it's Lord Yang. No wonder he's so tough, not even putting the Emperor's brother-in-law in his eyes."

The teahouse owner muttered under his breath, his face full of doubt, and said to himself, "Strange, I've heard that Lord Yang and the Imperial Brother-in-law have always had a close relationship, so why do they seem to be at odds now?"

Shen Subai frowned, glared at the teahouse owner, and said sternly, "You're not an official in the court, what do you know? How can you presume to know such secrets of the court?"

The teahouse owner blushed and awkwardly smiled apologetically, "Your Excellency is right to reprimand me. I was too talkative and shouldn't have spoken so carelessly."

His teahouse is usually frequented by a large number of people from all walks of life. While drinking tea, people often talk at length about national affairs, as if they could control the world.

As the manager, he was exposed to this every day, and over time, he began to believe that he had a keen understanding of the political situation in the court.

After all, the teahouse was frequented by ordinary people, wealthy young men, rich merchants, scholars, and even retired officials. These people often talked about the so-called "insider information of the court." After hearing this so often, the teahouse owner believed that he knew everything about the affairs of the court.

But today, witnessing firsthand Lord Yang's attitude towards the Imperial Brother-in-law was quite different from the rumors he had heard. Only then did he realize that what those boastful scions of wealthy families, self-important scholars who thought they were in charge of the country, and even some low-ranking officials said might not be the truth of the court.

While secretly regretting his loose tongue, the teahouse owner still couldn't suppress his curiosity. After a moment's hesitation, he asked again, "Lord Yang, your position in the imperial court must be extremely prestigious, right?"

This was a rhetorical question, but the situation just now was rather "abnormal," so he couldn't help but confirm it again.

Shen Subai was already feeling very agitated and worried about the matter Yang Shiqi had entrusted to him. Being pestered by the teahouse owner like this, he suddenly became angry and retorted with displeasure, "Is that even a question!"

"Although the emperor's brother-in-law holds a noble position, he is not involved in the actual affairs of the court."

"His Majesty rarely issues edicts publicly; all court affairs are handled by the State Affairs Department."

"Lord Yang holds the positions of Minister of State Affairs and Left Censor-in-Chief, and enjoys the deep trust of His Majesty. He is second only to the Emperor and above all others."

"In Lord Yang's eyes, I, a sixth-rank prefect, am nothing more than an ant, insignificant."

"What does this have to do with you? Don't ask any more questions, or you'll get yourself into trouble!"

The teahouse owner received another scolding, but his curiosity got the better of him, and he still wouldn't give up. He mumbled, "But those two censors who just entered the teahouse, the one who left first seemed to have a higher official rank than Lord Yang."

"How could that be!" Shen Subai replied without hesitation, "The Left Censor-in-Chief is the head of the Censorate. Among the censors, there is absolutely no one with a higher official rank than him..."

He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence, as if struck by something. He suddenly reached out and grabbed the teahouse owner by the collar, his eyes wide open, his expression almost manic with excitement: "How did you come to the conclusion that the other one holds a higher official position? Tell me!"

The teahouse owner was so frightened by Shen Subai's sudden action that his face turned pale, and he said in a trembling voice, "I...I was just observing their words and actions."

"The manner and bearing of that man clearly indicated that his official rank was higher than that of Lord Yang, and Lord Yang showed a great deal of respect in his presence."

"Officials often come to the teahouse, and I always feel that the censor is more like a superior, while Lord Yang is more like a subordinate."

"But you also said that Lord Yang is the highest-ranking official in the Censorate, which confuses me..."

With a "whoosh," Shen Subai's hand, which had been tightly gripping the teahouse owner's collar, loosened weakly.

"An official even higher than Lord Yang..." he muttered to himself, his voice so low it was almost inaudible, "Wouldn't that mean..."

In an instant, Shen Subai's eyes lit up, as if a bolt of lightning had flashed through his mind: "No wonder Lord Yang dared to issue this order, so that's how it is! So that's how it is!"

He snapped back to his senses and shouted, "Men! Investigate thoroughly every single thing Zhao Sanye has done to bully and dominate the market. Don't miss a single detail!"

Then, he turned to the accompanying constables and ordered: "You all go back to the yamen immediately and send more people over. Don't wear official uniforms, change into blue clothes, disguise yourselves, and set up positions around the residence of the emperor's brother-in-law. Carefully monitor everyone who enters and exits, and register them."

"Whenever someone goes out, their whereabouts must be tracked."

After making the arrangements, he looked at the teahouse owner again, his gaze intense: "Owner, tell me everything you know about Master Zhao, without worrying about his identity."

"Let me tell you frankly, Master Zhao is completely finished this time, and no one can save him!"

……

Outside, Yang Shiqi strolled slowly down the street.

Sometimes he would look up at the sky, sometimes he would look at the pedestrians coming and going on the street and the rows of shops, and sometimes he would look into the distance at the majestic palace.

Yang Shiqi's face was a jumble of complex emotions, difficult to decipher.

At this moment, the sun hangs high, but it lacks its usual heat and brightness. The light seems to be filtered through a light veil, exuding a touch of languor.

On the other side of the sky, a crescent moon quietly hung in the heavens, hidden from the bright light of day.

The daylight was so bright that the moonlight was completely obscured.

Only when one deliberately looks up can one clearly see that faint, beautiful figure.

If you're not paying attention, you might not even notice its existence.

Gazing at the white moon stubbornly shining in the daytime, Yang Shiqi seemed moved by the scene and softly recited: "A beautiful woman has the ambition to support the sky, and her fair hands can help the sun and moon move."

After his initial reflection, his expression gradually returned to its usual calm and composure. He quickened his pace, his clothes fluttering, and hurried towards the administrative office.

……

(End of this chapter)